I remember encountering difficulty linguistically in the Midwest, because I was used to unexpected or superfluous quotation marks denoting sarcasm, and apparently in Iowa (where I lived, at least) they are used to denote emphasis.
So, for instance, when a co-worker put up a sign reading Such-And Such Is "Very" Important, my instinct was to think it was in fact not important at all, rather than extremely important.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-09 02:46 am (UTC)So, for instance, when a co-worker put up a sign reading Such-And Such Is "Very" Important, my instinct was to think it was in fact not important at all, rather than extremely important.